Key actuatable lock



C. S. GEHRiE KEY ACTUATABLE LOCK Oct. 18, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet l FiledJan. 2l, 1953 W www.

Oct. 18, 1955 c. s. GEHRIE 297202774 KEY ACTUATABLE LOCK Filed Jan. 2l,1953 2 Sheeis-Sheet 2 JNVENTOR. @Zafira ,f $951): e)

United States Patent KEY ACTUATABLE LOCK Charles S. Gehrie, Mendham, N.J., assgnor to Presto Lock Company, Garfield, N. J., a limitedpartnership consisting of Abraham Levine, Mendham, N. J., a generalpartner; Mack Povill, New York, N. Y., a general partner; and A. LoebSalkin, New York, N. Y., a hmited partner Application January 21, 1953,Serial No. 332,266 8 Claims. (Cl. 70-71) This invention relates to animproved key actuatable lock for use in releasably securing togetherseparable parts, such e. g. as the body and cover of a container,suitcase or the like.

The invention has for an object to provide a novel lock structure of thetype having pivotally supported, oscillatable bolt members which areadapted to be moved into and out of engagement with a slotted keeperplate, the movements of said bolt members being induced by a slide platethat is controlled by rotatable cam means adapted to be actuated byengagement of a key therewith; the lock structure including a novelhousing assembly to contain said bolt members, slide plate and cammeans; the lock structure further including a cylinder to rotatablysupport a key barrel, and retention clip means for retaining saidcylinder in operative assembled relation to the housing assembly, saidcam, and to the body of a container or the like to be served by thelock.

T he invention has for another object to provide a cylinder and keybarrel assembly, wherein the key barrel is removable subject tointerchange for correspondence to a selected one of a variety of keyshapes; said assembly including means adapted to releasably hold aselected key barrel in the cylinder.

The above and other objects will be understood from a reading of thefollowing detailed description of this invention in connection with theaccompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary plan View of separable parts of a container orthe like, showing the lock mechanism of this invention operativelyapplied thereto; and Fig. 2 is a sectional View of said separable partsof the container or the like, showing the applied lock mechanism in sideelevation.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view, taken on line 3 3 inFig. 1, but drawn on an enlarged scale,

and showing an actuating key engaged in said lock mechanism and operatedto lock the latter.

Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view, taken on line 4 4 of Fig. 3,showing the bolt members of the lock mechanism in keeper plateengaging'position; and Fig. 5 is a view, similar to that of Fig. 4, butshowing the bolt members of the lock mechanism in released relation tothe keeper plate.

Fig. 6 is a horizontal sectional view, taken on line 6 6 in Fig. 3; andFig. 7 is a fragmentary verticall sectional view, taken on line 7 7 inFig. 6.

Similar characters of reference are employed in the above describedviews, to indicate corresponding parts.

Referring to the drawings, the reference character 10 indicates one ofthe separable parts, e. g. a container body, and 11 the other separablepart, e. g. a container cover, to which the lock mechanism of thisinvention is applied. As shown, the key actuatable mechanism of the lockis aiiixed to the body part 10, and the keeper plate which is releasablyengageable thereby is aiixed to the cover part 11.

The key actuatable mechanism of the lock comprises a frame member 12having side walls 13, a forward end wall 14 and a rearward end wall 15upstanding therefrom. The forward end wall 14 and adjacent ends of theside walls 13 are cut away to provide lateral openings 16 leadingoutwardly from the respective sides of the frame member 12 at theforward end portion thereof. Struck up from the respective side marginalportions of frame plate 12, to upstand therefrom in rearwardly spacedrelation to the forward end thereof, are transverse fulcrum posts 17.

A pair of bolt members 18 are supported upon the frame member 12,respectively adjacent opposite sides of the forward end portion thereof.Each bolt member 18 is provided at its forward free end portion with alaterally and outwardly projecting bolt nosing 19, and with a laterallyand inwardly projecting heel portion 20. Each bolt member 18 isprovided, in the outer side margin of its rear end portion, with anindenting notch 21 which straddles and embraces the inner edge of afulcrum post 17, whereby said bolt members are pivotally supported uponthe frame member 12 for lateral swinging movements by which their boltnosings 19 are projected outwardly through the side openings 16 of theframe member or inwardly withdrawn through the latter. Each bolt memberis further provided, at its rear end portion, with a laterally andinwardly projecting tail piece 22.

Longitudinally slidable upon the frame member 12, between its side walls13, is a slide plate 23 which is provided with a transverse opening 24adapted to receive, and its forward and rear edges to be engaged by, arotatable eccentric cam means, as hereinafter described. Integral withand projecting forwardly from said slide plate 23 is a centrallongitudinal arm 25 which terminates, at its forward end, in a laterallyenlarged thrust head 26 which is disposed between the bolt members 18for operative engagement therewith. The rearward end of said thrust head26 is formed to provide oppositely extending transverse retractorshoulders 27.

The cam means by which the slide plate is engaged comprises anupstanding hub 28. Connected with this hub 28, in eccentric relation tothe axis thereof, is a cam member 29 which is disposed within theopening 24 of the slide plate 23 between the forward and rear edges ofsaid opening. The major axis of the eccentric cam member 29, in therespective positions of rest of said cam member, is aligned with thecentral longitudinal axis of the slide plate 23. Projecting from theunderside of the cam member 29, in axial alignment with the hub 28, is ahub extension 30 which extends downwardly through an opening with whichthe frame member opening comprises a section 31 of minor radius,corresponding to the radius of the hub extension 30, and a section 32 ofmajor radius, whereby to form, in connection with said openingdiametrically opposite stop shoulders 33 and 33 intermediate saidsections. Projecting radially from the hub extension 30, to Ymove in themajor section 32 of said opening, is a stop lug 34 which, by engagementwith one or the other of said stop shoulders, determines respectivepositions of rest of the cam member 29. Formed in the upper end of thehub 28 is an upwardly open transverse slot 35, which is adapted to beoperatively engaged by an actuating key by which the lock is operated,as will be hereinafter more particularly described. This slot 35 isdisposed parallel to the major axis of the cam member 29. Supported byand across upstanding walls of the frame member 12 is a bearing plate36, which is provided with a bearing portion 37 in which the hub 28 ofthe cam means is journaled. The side walls of the frame member 12 arepreferably provided with suitably disposed, upwardly projectingpositioning lugs 38 which engage in correspondingly notched marginalportions of the bearing plate 36, whereby to hold the lat- 12 isprovided. Saidl "i said frame member. The bearing plate .36* is alsoprovided at its opposite end with upstanding spacer tongues 39, topredetermine the overlying spaced'relation thereto of atop housingplate.i A .v I

The housing assembly by which the lockmechanism is supported comprises atop housing plate having a main Y body part 40 which is provided with arearward extension, 41,Y preferably of lreduced width, extending vinthevplane' thereof. The :body part 40, ofV the top. housing platebridges over the'spar tongues 390i the bearing plate 36,@so as tok lieina plane parallel to but spaced above s aid bearing plate, thusprovidingv intermediate space into which the upperend of the cam memberhub 28 extends. DQWnwardlyY offset from the torward end of thefmainbody-.part 40ct the Ytop housing Vplate,by'a `,dependent angular portion42, a forwardly extendingcover section 43 which overlies the forward,portion of the frame member 12 and, itscontained bolt members 1s. YsaidYcorn-,r section 4Q is folded, at 44, aboutthe forward zend of the framemember-,11 to` forin'adouhled vback section 45 which,Y underlies andsupports the forwardy end portion Aof said frame member- 1,2, IUnderlyingrand supportingthe rearward end portion of the fame member A12isa bottom housing plate 4 6. Upwardly offset from the' rearward end ofthe bottom housing plate 46 by an upstanding angularportion 47,' is, arearward extension 48'which underlies `the rearward extension 41 of thetop housing plate. The forward endk portion ofthe bottom housingplate.46 overlaps the underside of theV free end'portionV of doubledback section 45 of the top housing plate,A VExtending laterallyrespectively from opposite sides ofthe forward end portion of the bottomhousing plate 46 are clenching tongues l49, whichv are turned upwardlyacross the sides of the ;frame member 12,'and then clenched over thecoverV section 4310i the top housing plate, thus interlocking thehousing plates together ,in their assembled enclosingand supportingrelation to theframe member 12,V and the lock mechanismrpalts containedtherein.

In mounting vthe lock mechanism in operative relation to a ,container orthe like to be servedthereby, the assembly is applied tothegunderside-of the wall of the container body 10 adjacent to the edgethereof to which the edge ofthe container coverV 11 is fopposed,.and-,in such position that the bolt--memberkcontaining forward endportion of the assembly projects outwardly beyond the edge of.thercontainer body 10,Y whereby, when the rcon-l tainer cover 41.71 isclosed upon said container body, kit can passV through the opening of akeeper plate 50 which is affixed, by screws, rivets ortthe like 51, tothe container cover 11,1to Adepend from the underside f the latter inopposition to said assembly. When the assembly isf thus arranged, it isheld in place by a fastening screw, rivet or the like 51Tt which isengaged through the Vsuperposed top and bottom Yhousing plate extensions41 vand 48,' and the container body 10.

Theassembly being in placeis ready to have assembled therewith and'withthe container Abody 10a key barrel supporting cylinder. Provided in thebodyipart 40.A of the top housing plate is an opening 53, which isdisposed in axially aligned relation to the cam member `hub 28.Extending radially inward from the margin of said opening 53 Yis a keytongue5r4, Provided inthe Wall of the container body 10 is athroughopening 5,5, whichcorres ponds to and is aligned `withthe opening 5,3-Qfthertop housing platebody part 40. i t Y i i Thekey barrel supportingcylinder comprises a;cylin drical body 6 havingV a downwardlyopenchamber or bore 57 which is closedat its upper or outer end by'a t'op;walll 5.8. Said top wall Y58V is formed to provide an {externalannular'l ange 59.` Formed in jsaid top wall 58 is an opening '60,leading outwardly from` the .chamber or bore 5,7A of cylinderY body,thus providing an internal annularA Si?? Shoulder i6,1. Rotatablymounted within the chamber or bore 5.7 0f. 'the cylinder body 'iS fihollow thev Y thestop shoulder Y61. Said key barrel is closed at itsupper end by an extension 63 of Vreduced diameter, which projectsexteriorly through said top opening of the cylinder body. Means toretain the key barrel within the cylinder body, in operative relationthereto, comprises a keeper washer 64. This keeper washer is providedwith supporting legs 65 respectively dependent from its margins atdiametrically opposite sides thereof. These supporting legs 65 arereceived in perpendicular grooves or channels 66.which indenttheinternal wallV surfaces of the chamber or bore of the cylinder body, andwhich extend to the lower end of the latter,'whereby not only to retainthe keeper washer against downward displacement from its operative keybarrel supporting position, Abut also against rotative displacement froma required predetermined position within lthe cylinder-body. Indentingthe external wall surface of thecylinder body 5 6 is a perpendiculargrooveor channel 67, which opens endwise from` the lower or bottom endof the cylinder body.

To assemble the keybarrel supporting cylinder in connection with thewall ofthe container bodyv 10, V,and in operative-relation to the lockmechanism assembly, the Y cylinder Vbody 56is'inserted downwardlythrough the opening 55 in the Ycontainer body wall, and thence. throughthe opening53 in the body vpart 40 of the top housingY plate, untilitsannular top end flange 59 abuts Vthe outer face of said container bodywall. When thus arranged, the ,open lower or bottom end of the cylinderbody V5,6 projectsz into `the space between the bearing plate 36 and thebody part 40 of the top housing plate, so that the cam member hub 28VisY entered within the lower end of the chamber or bore 57ofthe-.cylinder body in axially aligned relation t0 the key barrel 62supported by said cylinder body.,`

Whenrso assembling the cylinder, its external channelf or groove 67 isaligned with and so as to receive the key tongue 5,4 of the body part 40of the top housing plate, thus interlocking the cylinder with thelatteragainst rotative displacement from its Yoperative assembled relation tothe lock mechanism assembly. Means'is provided to secure ,the cylinderagainst outward axial displace.- ment from the lock mechanism assemblyand from the container body wall, while atithe'same time serving, to-Ygether with the v,fastening screw, rivet or the like 52,10 secure thelock mechanism assembly to theY container body 10. This means comprisesa pronged spring clip element 6,8,V the prongs 69of which are adapted tostraddle the cylinder Ybody 56.. The external wall surfaces of the innerend portionvof the cylinder body are provided, re-

spectively at opposite sides'of said. cylinder body, withtransversechannels or groovesx70, which extend adjacent to and parallelwith the underface of the body part V40y of the top housing plate. Whenthe cylinder is disposed in place, asabove described, the clip element68 isY insertedlaterally through the open space between the bearingplate 36 and the body part 40 of the top housing plate, whereby toYengage theY cylinder straddlingV prongs 69 t thereof throughsaid-channels or'grooves 70 and beneath and in engagement withtheunderface of saidY body part 40 of the tophousing plate, thusstrongly interlocking the cylinder lwith thelock mechanism housingVassembly andY with the wall of the container body 10.

1 The keeperl washer 64 is provided'with Va lslotted key Y passageopening 71 which is aligned with andV .Opposed to the key receptionslot35 of the camV member hubV 28, and which is maintained `againstdisplacement Vfrom'such aligned relation thereto by 'reason of thepredetermined interengagedr relationiof said keeperwasher and cylinderbody, and by reason ofthe factthat the'cylinder bodyis held Yagainstrotativeshift or movement by the engagement in itschannel'or groove 67ofthe key-tongue '54`ofr the' body -palt404 of the top housing plate. tThe exteriorly projecting extension 63 of the key barrel islongitudinally Ypierced Yto provide a key admission opening 72 of across sectional shape correspondingto the cross sectional shape of aselected key 73 by which the lock mechanism is to be actuated. Keybarrels respectively provided with variously shaped key admissionopenings 72 corresponding to various key shapes can be interchangeablyassembled with the cylinder, whereby to condition the lock mechanism foractuation only by a given selected key.

The container cover 11 being closed relative to the container body 10,so that the forwardly projecting end portion of the lock mechanismassembly enters through the aperture of the slotted keeper plate 50, toactuate the lock mechanism, the key 73 is inserted through the keybarrel 62-63 and keeper washer 64 so that its extremity enters the slot35 of the cam member hub 28. The entered key is turned clockwise,whereby to rotate the cam 29 against the forward edge of the slide plateopening 24, thus moving the slide plate forward so as to push the thrusthead 26 against the heel portions 20 of the bolt members 18, and therebyto swing outward the bolt members 18 so as to project the nosings 19thereof behind and in holding engagement with the keeper plate 50 (seeFigs. l to 4 inclusive). To release the lock mechanism, the inserted key73 is turned counterclockwise, whereby to rotate the cam 29 against therearward edge of the slide plate opening 24, thereby retracting theslide plate 23 and thrust head 26, so that the shoulders 27 of thelatter drag against the tail pieces 22 of the bolt members 18, thusswinging the latter inwardly to withdraw their nosings 19 from engagedrelation to the keeper plate 50, whereupon the container cover 11 can beopened relative to the container body 10.

Having now described my invention, I claim:

l. In a key actuatable lock for releasably locking together separableparts, a slotted keeper plate adapted to be mounted on a wall of onesaid part, a lock mechanism to engage said keeper plate, a housing tosupport said lock mechanism, the lock mechanism housing assembly beingadapted to be mounted on a wall of the other said part in such relationthereto that a freely projecting forward end portion of said assembly isengageable through said keeper plate when said parts are closedtogether; said lock mechanism comprising a frame member, pivoted boltmembers supported by said frame member and adapted to be laterallyprojected from opposite sides of the forward end portion thereof forlocking engagement with said keeper plate, a slide plate mounted on saidframe member having means for oscillating said bolt members, a rotatablecam member for actuating said slide plate, said cam member having anupstanding key engageable hub, a bearing plate for said hub, saidbearing plate being supported by said frame member in overlying relationto the cam member; the housing for said lock mechanisms comprising a tophousing plate, a bottom housing plate, and means for securing saidhousing plates together in their housing relation to the lock mechanism;a cylinder adapted to extend through the wall of the part upon which thelock mechanism housing assembly is to be mounted and through the tophousing plate in axially aligned opposition to the key engageable hub ofthe cam member, a key barrel rotatably mounted in said cylinder throughwhich an actuating key can be passed into operative engagement with saidcam member hub, and means to releasably interlock said cylinder inaffixed relation to the top housing plate.

2. In a key actuatable lock according to claim l, a removable keeperwasher within the cylinder to retain the key barrel in operativeassembled relation to the latter, and means to hold said keeper washerin a predetermined assembled relation to the cylinder, said keeperwasher having a key passage opening therethrough.

3. In a key actuatable lock according to claim l, wherein the means toreleasably interlock the cylinder in aixed relation to the top housingplate comprises a pronged spring clip inserted laterally into the lockmechanism housing assembly beneath and in engagement with the tophousing plate and with itsprongs straddling the cylinder' body, and saidcylinder body having transverse grooves in its opposite sides throughwhich the clip prongs extend.

4. In a key actuatable lock according to claim l, wherein the means toreleasably interlock the cylinder in aixed relation to the top housingplate comprises a pronged spring clip inserted laterally into the lockmechanism housing assembly beneath and in engagement with the tophousing plate and with its prongs straddling the cylinder, said cylinderbody having transverse grooves in its opposite sides through which theclip prongs extend, and said cylinder body and said top housing platehaving cooperative means to prevent rotative displacement of the former.

5. In a key actuatable lock according to claim l, wherein the means toreleasably interlock the cylinder in axed relation to the top housingplate comprises a pronged spring clip inserted laterally into the lockmechanism housing assembly beneath and in engagement with the tophousing plate and with its prongs straddling the cylinder body, saidcylinder body having transverse grooves in its opposite sides throughwhich the clip prongs extend, said cylinder body and said top housingplate having cooperative means to prevent rotative displacement of thecylinder, a removable keeper washer within the cylinder to retain thekey barrel in operative assembled relation to the latter, and means tohold said keeper washer in predetermined assembled position in thecylinder, said keeper washer having a key passage opening therethrough.

6. In a key actuatable lock for releasably locking together separableparts, a slotted keeper plate adapted to be mounted on a wall of onesaid part, a lock mechanism to engage said keeper plate, a housing tosupport said lock mechanism, the lock mechanism housing assembly beingadapted to be mounted on a wall of the other said part in such relationthereto that a freely projecting forward end portion of said assembly isengageable through said keeper plate when said parts are close together;said lock mechanism comprising a frame member, pivoted bolt memberssupported by said frame member and adapted to be laterally projectedfrom opposite sides of the forward end thereof for locking engagementwith said keeper plate, a slide plate mounted on said frame memberhaving means for oscillating said bolt members, a rotatable cam memberfor actuating said slide plate, said cam member having an upstanding keyengageable hub portion, a bearing plate for said hub portion, saidbearing plate being supported by the frame member in overlying relationto the cam member; the housing for said lock mechanism comprising a tophousing plate having a body part overlying said bearing plate in spacedrelation thereto and a downwardly offset cover section overlying theforward end portion of the frame member and the bolt members containedtherein, said cover section having a doubled back end portion tounderlie the forward end portion of the frame member, a bottom housingplate, and means for securing said housing plates together in theirhousing relation to the lock mechanism; a cylinder extending downwardlythrough the wall of the part upon which the lock mechanism housingassembly is mounted and through the body part of the top housing platein axially aligned relation to the key engageable hub of the cam member,a key barrel rotatably mounted in said cylinder through which anactuating key can be passed into operative engagement with said cammember hub, and means to releasably interlock said cylinder in fixedrelation to the body part of the top housing plate of the lock mechanismhousing assembly.

7. In a key actuatable lock according to claim 6, wherein the means toreleasably interlock the cylinder in aixed relation to the top housingplate comprises a pronged spring clip inserted laterally into the lockmechanism housing assembly beneath and in engagement with the tophousing plate and withits prongs lstraddling the cylinder body, 'saidcylinder bodyrhaving -transverse grooves'nits opposite sides throughwhich the clip prongs l extend; and saidr cylinder body and said tophousing plate having cooperative means to prevent rotative displacementof the former.

'8. In Ya key actuatable lock according to claimV 7, in-

cludinga removable keeper washer Within the cylinder to References Citedinthe le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Yale Apr. 2, 18,78

- V Nov.V 16, Hambujer July 19, "Fairhust Augf24, Kaye Mar. l5,

'f Faust etal. Nov. 21, Johnson Dec. 12, VV'Viehvveger Aug. 7, ALooneyDec. 18, Viehweger Dec. 15,

FOREIGN 'PATENTS .Germany June 1,

VFrance June 1l,

